Safe leaf disposal apparatus



June 22, 1965 w. P. CREssY ETAL- 9 SAFE LEAF DISPOSAL APPARATUS FiledApril 3, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTGRS.

WESLEY P. CRESSY VINCENT GEIGER ATTORNEY June 22, 1965 w. P. CRESSY ETALFiled April :5. 1963 SAFE LEAF DISPOSAL APPARATUS FIG. 3

3 Sheets-Sheet 2- jj\ 4 7 g a 47 5; K 2. I as 2 WESLEY P. CRESSY VINCENTGEIGER ATTORNEY June 22, 1965 R CRESSY ETAL 3,190,566

SAFE LEAF DISPOSAL APPARATUS Filed April 3, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 5INVENTORi WESLEY P. CRESSY VINCENT GEIGER ATTOR United States Patent3,196,566 SAFE LEAF DISPGEAL APPARATUS Wesley P. Cressy, lid CharlesAve, and Vincent (Geiger, 143 Lindberg St., both of Massapequa Park,N.Y. Filed Apr. 3, 1963, Ser. No. 270,233 6 Claims. (@l. 241- 56) Thisinvention relates to apparatus for leaf disposal and more particularlyto devices for receiving and grinding leaves and collecting theresulting leaf particles.

A continuing problem in both urban and suburban communities is thematter of leaf disposal during the fall season. Many homeowners attemptto dispose of fallen leaves by burning them. As attested to by countlessnews reports, this method materially increases the incidence of firesthat have gone out of control, necessitating the calling of the localfire department. There is thereby entailed an increased monetary expenseas well as an increased danger to life, limb and property. In additionto the forementioned possibilities, with each instance of leaf burningthere is the attendant increase of air pollution. This has become aproblem of such magnitude that various corrective measures have beenundertaken at even the highest government levels.

Still another method of leaf disposal is by carting. That is, largetrucks are employed to take the fallen leaves to a remote spot wherethey are dumped and subsequently burned. The matter of air pollutiontherefore still exists and further, there is the substantial payroll andequipment expense for an operation of this type. At best, this methodmerely replaces one problem with another without alleviating thedangerous condition of excessive air pollution.

In order to provide quick and etficient leaf disposal the presentinvention is directed towards apparatus that is sized to be practicalfor use by an individual homeowner or, alternatively, of a somewhatlarger size for municipality use. The operation of the present inventionis safe, having concealed cutting apparatus and is convenient to use inthat the chopped or ground leaves may be easily removed and used as amulch. The rotating blades reduce the leaves to fine particles which mayalso be used for weed control or combined with fertilizer thus providingutility for a hitherto objectionable product. It should be understoodthat all the advantages accruing to an individual home owner would alsobe available to communities using the larger commercial version of thepresent invention.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide animproved, portable leaf disposal apparatus.

Still another object is to provide a leaf disposal ap paratus havingconcealed cutting blades.

Another object is to provide safe, yet efficient, means to grind or chopfallen leaves to fine particle or powder size.

Still another object is to provide a low cost, easily manufactured leafdisposal apparatus.

A further object is to have said leaf disposal apparatus containintegral collecting means for the chopped leaves.

An additional object is to include easy access to the collecting meansfor disposal of the contents therein.

Yet another object is to provide easy access to the operating mechanismof the present invention for the purposes of cleaning and maintenance.

A still further object is to provide leaf disposal apparatus adaptablefor use by an individual, such as a homeowner.

Another object is to provide a large capacity, mobile leaf disposal unitsuitable for municipality use.

These and other objects and advantages of the presout invention will, inpart, be pointed out with particularly and will, in part, be apparentfrom the following description taken in conjunction with the appendeddrawmg.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a leaf disposal unit adaptable foruse by an individual such as a homeowner.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional elevational view taken along line 33 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view illustrating the device of the presentinvention mounted on a motorized vehicle.

FIGS. 59 illustrate alternative pitched cutting blades usable in thepresent invention.

FIG. 10 shows an alternative basket construction for varying aperturesize for different applications.

With reference now to the drawing, there is shown in FIGS. 1-3 a leafdisposal unit 20 mounted on a carriage 22 in which wheel sets 24 and 25are rotatably journaled by means of transverse axle 23 and 30,respectively. Handle 32, suitably attached to the carriage, facilitatesmovement and permits mobility of the apparatus.

Upright, cylindrical body member 34 is releasably secured to the topsurface of carriage 22 by means of spring loaded, quick release latches35 and contains therein the operating mechanism of leaf disposal unit20. The upper portion of body member 34 contains an open, funnel-shapedhopper 36 which is releasably secured thereto by means of clips 38 orother suitable latches. When the unit requires cleaning such as removalof stones and the like, or to replace some elements, the removal of bodymember 34 provides ready access to the interior of the apparatus.

Directly below the hopper is a conical safety hood 40 coaxiallypositioned on the longitudinal center line of body member 34 with itspointed, upper end 42 facing the open hopper. Sloping side walls 44terminate in a circular base portion 46. Spaced below safety hood 4%,and releasably seated on pads 47 integral with inner wall 48 of bodymember 34, is a substantially fiat, disclike safety ring 50 having acircumferential fillet S1 and central opening 52 defined by upturnedflange 53 slightly smaller than the diameter of base portion 46. Thesafety ring and safety hood are spaced a sufficient distance from eachother to permit the passage of leaves, but the combination of thesloping side wall 44 of hood 46 together with flange portion 53 inhibitpassage of stones, rocks, sticks, etc., that could damage the cuttingblades. That is, undesirable elements which are generally too heavy tobe drawn through opening 52 but which are inadvertently introduced intothe hopper will be deflected outwardly by the hood and further inwardmovement will be interrupted by flange 53. Fillet 51 serves to guide theleaves inwardly towards central opening 52. Support ribs 54 are suitablespacing means and do not interfere with the passage of leaves.

Secured within body member 3a beneath safety ring 5th is a basket 56having a perforated, tapered side wall 58, smaller in diameter than theinner wall 48 of body member 34, and a perforated base wall oil. Thebasket is releasably supported on posts 57. Inverted cups 59, secured toand depending from the underside of basket 56 are seated on posts 57 andare removably secured thereto by pins 61. Posts 57 are integral with andserve to space bottom wall 60 from carriage 22. As will be discussedhereinafter, basket 56 may be interchanged or combined with otherbaskets having different perforation patterns. This interchangeabilityadds to the U) versatility of the apparatus in that the fineness of thechopped or ground leaves may be accurately controlled by means of thevariability of perforation size. As illustrated in FIG. 3, base wall 60of basket 56 has a central opening 62 through which is passed driveshaft 64 of motor 66. It has been found that a 3 HP. gasoline motor or aH.P. electric motor is quite satisfactory for the average homeowner.

The drive shaft of motor 66 extends upwardly and terminates proximateopening 52 of safety ring 5'0. Attached to the end thereof in apreferred form of the invention are impeller blades 68 which, whendriven by motor 66, suck both air and leaves downwardly past the slopingside walls of safety hood 40 through opening 52 in safety ring 50. Fromthe drawing, it will be seen that the users hands cannot come intocontact with the impeller blades and therefore the apparatus is quitesafe to use. This feature alone represents substantial improvement ofthe prior art since safety is a prime consideration of power tool users.Spaced downwardly from impeller blades 68, on drive shaft 64, is apitched cutting blade 70 positioned just above perforated base wall 60of basket 56. When the leaves are drawn downwardly under the influenceof impeller blades 68, they are chopped or ground by cutting blades 70which is also driven by motor 66. It should be understood that motor 66may be secured either to carriage 22 or to body member 34 by any one ofa number of conventional means. Further, motor 66 may be locatedexternally of body 34 and be drivingly connected to shaft 64 by means ofa pulley mounted on the motor shaft having an endless belt trainedthereabout, the belt being fitted through an appropriate opening on bodymember 34 and also being trained about a pulley secured to drive shaft64. In a construction of this type, conventional support means andbearings for shaft 64 would be provided within body member 34. It shouldalso be noted that impeller blades 68 may be eliminated by selecting aproperly pitched cutting blade that will also draw in the leaves as wellas cut them.

At a point in the lowermost portion of body member 34, or alternatively,someplace below bottom wall 60 of basket 56, there is provided an outletport 72. Neck portion 74 of porous bag 76 is secured to outlet port 72by means of releasable clamp 78. Bag 76 also has closure meanscomprising a substantially U-shaped, elongated clamp 80 fabricated froma resilient material. The legs of clamp 80 engage the beaded lips 82 ofbag opening 84 so that in order to empty the bag all that is necessaryis to slip clamp 80 along the bead. Other closure means such as zippers,snaps, etc., may also be employed. Bag 76 is made of a porous, fiex-iblematerial to provide an outlet for the air sucked downwardly by impellerblades 68. However, the openings in bag 76 are not sufficiently large topermit egress of the ground leaves. As an alternative to the bagillustrated, a disposable bag, such as burlap, may be used. In thisinstance the bag is clamped to outlet port 72 and at its other end tosome convenient point such as the handle. When full, the neck portion ofthe bag is tied off and the bag removed for future disposal.

FIG. 4 illustrates a larger version of the present invention wherebyessentially the same elements, constructed on a larger scale, areincluded in a motorized vehicle such as a garbage truck. In thisinstance the truck 100 is moved from place to place within the communitywhere leaves have been collected. The leaves are fed into a convenientlyplaced hopper 102 and drawn into perforated chamber 104 by means ofimpeller blades 106. Instead of gravity feed, a blower or conveyor maybe employed to deliver the leaves to the perforated chamber. As before,when the leaves are in chamber 104, they are ground into fine particlesby cutting blade 108. Under the influence of impeller blades 106, theground leaves are blown into collecting chamber 110 from which they maybe dispensed, when convenient, by means of an access l door 112. Motivepower for blades 106 and 108 may be obtained directly from the vehiclepower plant by means of suitable couplings or a separate motor may beprovided, the function of which would be to actuate the leaf disposalmechanism.

In order to eliminate the need for manually lifting the leaves to theheight of the hopper, conveyor has been added. Leaves are placed in thebucket-like carriers 122 at the lowermost level 124. The leaves aretransported upwardly by the conveyor and dropped off the top of conveyor120 at position 126, falling freely therefrom into the hopper. Theleaves are ground in the manner described previously and the fineparticles are then blown into an internal collecting chamber within thebody of the truck.

This apparatus offers the advantage of a mobile disposal unit, themovements of which may be controlled by the governmental agency directlyconcerned with this problem. Further, this eliminates the necessity ofindividuals burning their own leaves. It should also be noted that theground leaves may be used as a mulch by the park department of themunicipality using the equipment, thus eliminating the need foradditional purchases.

FIGS. 5 to 9 illustrate alternative cutting blades. In FIG. 5, blade isprovided with a plurality of projections 132 on the top surface thereof.Projections 132 are perpendicular to the rotational plane of the bladeand are radially situated proximate the periphery of the blade. Asbefore, the blade is secured to the driven shaft proximate the base wallof the perforated basket.

Alternative cutting blade of FIG. 6 is provided with a plurality ofprojections 142 positioned proximate the periphery of the blade.Projections 142 are disposed on both top and bottom surfaces of theblade and form acute angles with the rotational plane of the blade.

FIG. 7 illustrates still another blade having projections 152 on the topand bottom surfaces thereof, radially disposed proximate the peripheryof the blade. However, in this case the projections are perpendicular tothe rotational plane of the blade.

In FIGS. 8 and 9, there are illustrated additional cutting blades havingprojections extending radially from the circumferences thereof. Blade(FIG. 8) is provided with projection 162 at an angle to the rotationalplane of the blade while blade (FIG. 9) is provided with projections 172parallel to the rotational plane of the blade.

It should be understood that any one of the blades heretofore describedmay be used in pairs, that is, in tandem on a common shaft, and theremay also be used a combination of two or more of the variousalternatives described and illustrated. It is also contemplated that theabove described blades be suitably pitched to provide aerodynamic typelift. This will have the effect of pulling down the leaves and theimpeller blade may be eliminated, if so desired.

An alternative basket construction is illustrated in FIG. 10. Nesting,concentric baskets and 182 having different size perforations aresecured in close proximity to each other within the cylindrical bodymember by means of spacers 184 integral with basket 180. Screws 186,integral with basket 182, pass through oversized apertures 188 in eachspacer and are retained by nuts 190, thus permitting a limited amount ofrotation of the baskets with respect to each other. The baskets aresupported on carriage 22 as hereinbefore described. The nesting basketconfiguration permits the adjustment of screen apertures so that,according to the application, different size particles are permitted topass through.

The various embodiments described and illustrated and the combinationsthereof provided effective and economical means for leaf disposal. Thesmaller of the units is completely safe for the average homeowner to useand in addition, finds a practical use for an end product that washeretofore a nuisance. he finely ground leaf particles may be used as amulch or may be used in a compost pile as part of a manufacturedfertilizer. All this is accomplished without an increase in airpollution. Where community-wide use of the apparatus is anticipated, theresults are also beneficial. The hazards of leaf burning are eliminated;standard refuse disposal equipment may be readily adapted, and once thefall season is over, the equipment may just as readily be returned toits normal function. It may therefore be seen that the present inventionoffers utility regardless of the scale of use.

It should also be noted that the construction of the apparatus is quitesimple and even though the operating mechanism is concealed for safetypurposes, it still is accessible for cleaning and maintenance, such asblade sharpening.

There has been disclosed heretofore the best embodiment of the inventionpresently contemplated and it is to be understood that various changesand modifications may be made by those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A motor driven leaf disposal apparatus, comprising in combination:

(A) a hollow body member having first and second ends and an outletport, said first end bein open for the admission of leaves, said outletport being proximate said second end and in communication with saidfirst end;

(B) leaf supporting means disposed within said body member above saidoutlet port to receive said leaves, said supporting means havingperforated side and bottom walls and a top wall, said top wall having acentral leaf-admitting opening in longitudinally spaced opposition tosaid open end of said body member;

(C) a rotatable cutting blade driven by said motor, said bladepositioned within said leaf supporting means proximate said bottom walland adapted to comminute said leaves; and

(D) leaf particle collecting means removably secured to said outletport; and

(E) a hood member having a base portion, said hood member being mountedabove and in spaced relation ship to said central leaf admitting openingand substantially coextensive therewith, the base portion of said hoodmember being substantially smaller than said leaf supportin member andsubstantially the same size as the central opening in said leafsupporting member.

2. A motor driven leaf disposal apparatus, comprising in combination:

(A) a hollow body member having first and second ends and an outletport, said first end being open for the admission of leaves, said outletport being proximate said second end and in communication with saidfirst end;

(B) leaf supporting means disposed within said body member above saidoutlet port to receive said leaves, said supporting means havingperforated side and bottom walls and a top wall, said top wall having acentral leaf admitting opening in longitudinally spaced opposition tosaid open end of said body member;

(C) a rotatable impeller driven by said motor, said impeller positionedproximate said top wall opening and adapted to draw air and leaves intosaid leaf supporting means;

(D) a rotatable cutting blade driven by said motor, said bladepositioned within said leaf supporting means proximate said bottom walland adapted to comminute said leaves;

(E) leaf particle collecting means removably secured to said outletport; and

(F) a conical hood member spacedly secured longitudinally and coaxiallyabove the central opening of said leaf supporting means, the base ofsaid conical hood member being slightly larger than the opening in saidleaf supporting means and substantially smaller than said leafcollecting means.

3. A leaf disposal apparatus comprising, in combina tion:

(A) a carriage;

(B) a hollow body member secured to said carriage,

(1) said body member having one open end;

(2) said body member having an outlet port proximate the end oppositesaid open end;

(C) a hopper removably secured to said open end of said body member,

(1) said hopper communicating between the exterior and interior of saidbody member;

(D) an annular ring defining a central opening,

(1) said ring being removably disposed transverse the longitudinalcenter line of said body member,

(2) said ring being longitudinally spaced below said hopper;

(E) a conical hood member having a base portion, said hood member beingspacedly secured to said ring intermediate said hopper and said ringopening, the base portion of said hood member being substantiallysmaller than said annular ring and substantially the same size as thecentral opening in said annular ring;

(F) a perforated basket removably secured intermediate said ring andsaid outlet port,

(1) said basket having a central opening in the bottom surface thereof;

(G) a motor having an elongated shaft extending through said basketopening and terminating proximate said ring opening;

(H) a cutting blade secured to and driven by said motor shaft proximatesaid basket bottom wall; and

(I) particle collecting means secured to said outlet port external ofsaid body member.

4. A leaf disposal apparatus comprising, in combination:

(A) a carriage;

(B) a hollow body member secured to said carriage,

(1) said body member having one open end,

(2) said body member having an outlet port proximate the end oppositesaid open end;

(C) a hopper removably secured to said open end of said body member,

(1) said hopper communicating between the exterior and interior of saidbody member;

(D) an annular ring defining a central opening,

(1) said ring being removably disposed transverse the longitudinalcenter line of said body member,

(2) said ring being longitudinally spaced below said hopper;

(E) a conical hood member having a base portion, said hood member beingspacedly secured to said ring intermediate said hopper and said ringopening, the base portion of said hood member being substantialsmallerthan said annular ring and substantially the same size as the centralopening in said annular ring;

(F) a perforated basket removably secured intermediate said ring andsaid outlet port,

(1) said basket having a central opening in the bottom surface thereof;

(G) a motor having an elongated shaft extending through said basketopening and terminating proximate said ring opening;

(H) an impeller blade secured to and driven by said motor shaftproximate said ring opening;

(I) a cutting blade secured to and driven by said motor shaft proximatesaid basket bottom wall; and

(1) leaf particle collecting means secured to said outlet port externalof said body member.

5. A leaf disposal apparatus comprising in combination:

(A) a carriage; I

(B) a hollow body member secured to said carriage,

(1) said body member having one open end, (2) said body member having anoutlet port proximate the end opposite said open end;

(C) an annular ring defining a central opening,

(1) said ring being disposed transverse the longitudinal center line ofsaid body member,

(2) said ring being longitudinally spaced below said open end of saidbody member;

(D) a conical hood member having a base portion, said hood member beingspacedly secured to said ring intermediate said body member open end andsaid ring opening, the base portion of said hood member beingsubstantially smaller than said annular ring and substantially the samesize as the central opening in said annular ring;

(E) a perforated basket secured intermediate said ring and said outletport,

(1) said basket having a central opening in the bottom surface thereof;

(F) a motor having an elongated shaft extending through said basketopening and terminating proximate said ring opening;

(G) a cutting blade secured to and driven by said motor shaft proximatethe bottom surface of said basket; and

(H) particle collecting means secured to said outlet port external ofsaid body member.

6. A leaf disposal apparatus comprising, in combination:

(A) a carriage;

(B) a hollow body member secured to said carriage,

(1) said body member having one open end, (2) said body member having anoutlet port proximate the end opposite said open end;

(C) a hopper removably secured to said open end of said body member,

(1) said hopper communicating between the exterior and interior of saidbody member;

(D) an annular ring defining a central opening,

(1) said ring being removably disposed transverse the longitudinalcenter line of said body member,

(2) said ring being longitudinally spaced below said hopper;

(E) a conical hood member having a base portion, said hood member beingspacedly secured to said ring intermediate said hopper and said ringopening, the base portion of said hood member being substantiallysmaller than said annular ring and substantially the same size as thecentral opening in said annular ring;

(F) a perforated basket removably secured intermediate said ring andsaid outlet port,

(1) said basket having a central opening in the bottom surface thereof;

(G) a vertical shaft extending through said basket opening;

(H) a cutting blade secured to said shaft for rotation therewith;

(I) motor means arranged to drive said shaft; and

(J) leaf particle collecting means in communication with said outletport external of said body member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 814,114 3/06 Burr241248 1,523,614 7 1/25 Shelton 241-89 1,651,319 11/27 Bowman 2411952,308,578 1/ 43 White 24186 2,352,127 6/44 Sheldon 24119l 2,607,538 8/52Larson 241-195 2,822,846 2/58 Ward 146192 2,825,377 3/58 Ostrowski241-101 2,853,240 9/58 Mahoney 241-10l 2,969,820 1/61 Gruendler 241-19540 J. SPENCER OVERHOLSER, Primary Examiner.

1. A MOTOR DRIVEN LEAF DISPOSAL APPPARATUS, COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: (A) A HOLLOW BODY MEMBER HAVING FIRST AND SECOND ENDS AND AN OUTLET PORT, SAID FIRST END BEING OPEN FOR THE ADMISSION OF LEAVES, SAID OUTLET PORT BEING PROXIMATE AND SECOND END AND IN COMMUNICATION WITH SAID FIRST END; (B) LEAF SUPPORTING MEANS DISPOSED WITHIN SAID BODY MEMBER ABOVE SAID OUTLET PORT TO RECEIVE SAID LEAVES, SAID SUPPORTING MEANS HAVING PERFORATED SIDE AND BOTTOM WALLS AND A TOP WALL, SAID TOP WALL HAVING A CENTRAL LEAF-ADMITTING OPENING IN LONGITUDINALLY SPACED OPPOSITION TO SAID OPEN END OF SAID BODY MEMBER; (C) A ROTATABLE CUTTING BLADE DRIVEN BY SAID MOTOR, SAID BLADE POSITIONED WITHIN SAID LEAF SUPPORTING MEANS PROXIMATE SAID BOTTOM WALL AND ADAPTED TO COMMINUTE SAID LEAVES; AND (D) LEAF PATICLE COLLECTING MEANS REMOVABLY SECURED TO SAID OUTLET PORT; AND (E) A HOOD MEMBER HAVING A BASE PORTION, SAID HOOD 